Regent Street Records [Release date 21.05.21]
No psychodrama queens, Ghosts of Men are as comfortable as any rock band can be in writing about mental health. It’s hardly a selling point, but on this their second album, they undercut the inner turmoil that’s been suffered by many, many people during pandemic lockdowns, with the sheer bravado of performance and the smart, sensory underload of their songs. It’s a provocative, stripped down approach that’s full of challenging notions. But it engages quickly, and the duo’s emotional investment rubs off.
Fuelled by a fuzz bursting riff and the pounding percussive thud of an insistent bass guitar, the minimalist vigour of ‘Trouble’ and ‘Tell Me Why’ confirm that you can’t be the future without looking back. It’s as elemental as the booming blues heaviosity of the White Stripes, and is powered by the same barely controlled intensity of the Black Keys.
This stuff – and we should include the pulsing ‘You Can’t Help Me’ and the funky ‘It’s Okay’ – is edge of the seat listening. You expect them to go careering off the rails at any moment. And yet each carries a commercially appealing melodic core, recalling the way in Zappa and Beefheart leavened the controlled chaos with great tunes, back in the last century.
That said, standout track might just be the rapped up ‘Hold On’ (featuring Samantics), a song that seems to flow with the logic of a nightmare. It’s where the darkness meets the light. ***1/2
Review by Brian McGowan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 16 November 2025.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This 600th show was first broadcast on 18 November 2025
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 1 December 2025
We feature all the artists selected in this sequence in 2025.
Featured Albums w/c 1 December 2025
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)
Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.
If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:
If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device
(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
